Emmanuel Adebayor ready Togo

We’d love him in our squad and that he would not go to the African Nations Cup, but it’s a massive tournament and we respect his decision

Spurs assistant boss Steffen Freund

The 28-year-old striker insisted he would not play for Togo as he still has serious safety fears after their team bus was ambushed by gunmen in 2010.

But assistant boss Steffen Freund says Spurs will cope if Adebayor is persuaded to play for his country after all.

Freund said: “We’d love him in our squad and that he would not go to the African Nations Cup, but it’s a massive tournament and we respect his decision.”

Speaking ahead of Spurs’ FA Cup third round clash with Coventry tomorrow, Freund also revealed that defender Younes Kaboul could be out for another two months as he recovers from a serious knee injury.